IMPACT OF VIOLENT EXTREMISM ON GIRLS’ SCHOOLS IN KHYBER PAKHTUNKHWA

Abstract

Abstract

All over the world, terrorist attacks on places of learning are increasing. These attacks are different in types, including armed assaults, bombings and hostage taking. In Pakistan, these attacks began in 2009 and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KPK), with its conservative culture was the worst affected area, where mainly girls’ schools were the targets of militants. Women in a conservative society are already marginalized and the extremist elements have further constrained their rights. According to the extremist’s viewpoint, a woman’s life is limited to the traditional roles where education is unnecessary and counterproductive. The customary norms also discourage female education and interpret it as a ‘futile pastime.’ The existing literature, focusing on gender disparity in the low enrolment of girls in schools, points out three main causes: tradition, poverty and extremism as hurdles in women’s path to education. The religious extremists are deliberately keeping girls/women away from education. The paper explores the impact of violent extremism on educational facilities and a look into how it impedes the path of girls going to school.